Fisheries industry at stake as activists threaten to withdraw ‘dolphin-safe’ label
25 Jan 2012, 7:54 PM
Eleanor Johnstone
The Maldives tuna industry’s dolphin-safe reputation is under threat after US-based non-profit environmental organisation, Earth Island Institute (EII), launched a campaigns with ECOCARE Maldives against a proposed dolphin lagoon.
The lagoon is an educational and recreational program proposed by famous tennis player Amir Mansoor, involving 6-8 trained dolphins imported from the Caribbean.
EII, which issues the dolphin-safe label to 93 percent of the world’s tuna market – including 14 Maldivian companies – has said it will rescind the label from government-owned canneries should the government approve Mansoor’s program. EII claims to have already warned foreign buyers and distributors of its concerns.
Mansoor and staff accuse EII and ECOCARE of “threatening” the fishing industry, while their opponents maintain that importing dolphins will damage the Maldives’ “Always Natural” image, as well as endanger marine life. Both sides have accused the other of corrupt dealings.
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